The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22
MOTHER ROBIN AND HER SON.

and very proud OF her three CHEEKY,
bright SONS! Ever since the first delight
ed glimpse of the bluish-green eggs in
the carefully made nest, on which she
and Father Robin had bestowed such
wealth of affection and care, she had lived
new life.
To be sure Robin was devotion itself;
all things were equal; together they
planned and worked; together they her.
aided the coming of spring. So kind was
he, again and again would he deny him
self the first tempting delicate green
worms of the season, and bring them
home to the beloved wife. Difference
was paid to her slightest wish. Many
tired, weary mother with little trousers to
patch, buttons to sew on, baby's bruised
fingers to kiss, and broken hearts to
soothe every hour In the day, would have
been grateful for some loving attention
such as fell to the lot of Mother Robin.
Her influence prevailed in the choice
of building spot. Robin pater had re-
ally preferred another site, but he laugh
ingly said:
'When womans in the case,
You know all other things give place"
So he calamity gave way, receiving In
return many loving embraces from his
helpmate, and he imagined no one was
80 happy as he.
But when three small empty eggshells
were thrown over the nest, to the g reat de-
light of little faxen-haired baby in the
garden below, and when three cadaverous
birdlings, Mother r. would correct me
and say beautiful, no doubt, took their
first view OF world composed OF sweet
pink apple blossoms, two delighted par
ents, a wealth of golden sunshine and
oceans of blue sky, then did this loving
pair enter the seventh heaven OF delight.
One thing, though, troubled the dear
little mother, making her heart very sor-
rowful at times. In bull ling the home
stray piece Of paper was woven into 1t
an innocent looking scrap, it seemed
at the time; but while the proud sitter"
was keeping the treasured eggs warm she
had leisure to examine it more closely.
As she read, look of horror and pain
came over her happy face. just as her
husband came back from marketing one
bright morning in May, with three dainty
grasshoppers and one fat, jolly cricket.
In answer to the cause of her fright, she
pointed to the slip of paper, where, in
hard, cruel black letters, her trembling
spouse read: "The flesh of the robin is
tender, savory and easily digested, IA
vorite article of food during the shooting
season, when the markets are filled with
them"
Before these birdlings could fly, or even
know that such thing was expected Of
them, the fond mother began to warnthem
against danger. 1t was for their own
good, and not to cast any sadness on their
young lives, that she said one day my
dears, must tell you a very sad tale OF
Brownie and Twitter Sparrow, who one
year ago were happy in their home with
their father and mother. One day, when
Mr.. and Mrs. Sparrow had gone to the
park for food, these two brides thought
they would try to fly; it seemed such an
easy thing to do; why, Mamma Sparrow
just stretched out her wings, and away
she went; any one could do that, they
thought. But the little wings were weak
and feeble, so they both fell to the ground,
and there, my dears, was horrio ole cat.
who ate them up. When the poor moth
er came home, what did she see in the
mouth of Thomas A. Cat. but the tip end
of Twitter's brown tail and near by one
of Brownies Wings"
Then the three Rsdbreasts opened
their small eyes and large mouths very
wide, and looked exceedingly wise, as il
they understood it all.
She also warned them about men.
Accountable creatures!' said Mrs. Red
breast, "and boys-don't ever look at
them; they make the men, and kill us
whenever they can"
"There are few good men," ad omitted
her birdship, "a very few. One, we know
lives near here and has bed OF beauti-
full ripe Strawberries; when you are
strong enough we will go there. He is
very kind friend Of ours, and every
year leaves some berries at our disposal"
Then she gave them such a glowing
account of those luscious bsrriesl Surely
the nectar and ambrosia of Father Jupit
er and Mrs. Juno were never more de-
icious; and the hearers wanted to fly there
right away, but she shook her head, and
said in the words Of great poet:
"Brdie wait little longer, till the little wings
are stronger"
1t was not many days, though, before the
trio learned to hy, and fly nicely indeed
to the great delight Of their parents
One of the first places they visited was
the strawberry bed, where the kind owner
watched them with great interest. Some
times they were allowed to go alone. One
morning, while they were feasting there
to their hearts content, Father Redbreasl
came home looking gloomy and troubled
His good wife was busily arranging q
green leaf screen to keep out the sun
when he said: "My dear, there is a change
10 the administration over there" point